Wednesday, July 29, 2009

I don't own these & there is no way I have any room left in my kitchen for another cutting board. But, I love this idea! The set contains four cutting boards. Labeled for vegetables, fish, raw meat & cooked food.

Monday, July 27, 2009

This recipe is super easy & can be loosely adapted to suit your taste. This is pretty much the only time of year it can be made, when ripe tomatoes are easily available.I had a bunch this weekend & didn't feel like ruining their fresh flavor by cooking them.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

I meant to do this post a few weeks ago, when everything in the garden was at it's peak loveliness. It's still looking great, but some of the plants have begun their slow decline. This shot is from our perennial garden out front. You can click here to see the "2009 Garden~Before" shot. It certainly has come quite a way.{Globe Thistle}{Coneflowers}

Thursday, July 23, 2009

As I have mentioned before, I love Lebanese food. DH & I used to eat at a restaurant named, Moustache, on Atlantic Avenue, in Brooklyn very regularly. I always ordered the Fattoush, which is a chopped green salad with toasted pita bread, in a lemony-minty dressing.I've never made it at home, until now. This recipe is very much how I remember it...delicious!

Monday, July 20, 2009

I picked up copy of "Summer Entertaining" magazine, by the people at Cooks Illustrated. It is full of delicious looking summer recipes. Lots of which are Mediterranean in origin. I tried this one first & it was a big hit. DH declared that I must make this on vacation this summer.

If you follow my blog, you know that I use this tool all the time. I actually only have the lemon juicer. But, I use it for limes too & it works well for either.I love that it takes up little space in my already cluttered kitchen drawers. It's also super easy to use & clean.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

This pasta salad has many of my favorites all wrapped up in one dish. I love olives, fresh mozzarella, basil, Parmesan & sun-dried tomatoes. I knew, before I ever made it, that I'd love it.I first made it for Bozo #2's birthday party back in June. Then, again this weekend, for a small catering job I was doing.Because I was making a large batch, the photos show higher quantities than what the recipe calls for. So, just ignore that & follow the recipe below for the correct proportions. Or, double it, for a large crowd, like I did here.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

I've made the marinade in this recipe countless times. I use it for making these Chicken Satay skewers, but also as a marinade for grilled chicken breast, or flank steak.
The Bozos love it & especially love eating off skewers. They call it "Chicken on a stick".
It's a great party appetizer too!
If you double the recipe, as I almost always do, it makes enough for a crowd...about 40-50 pieces. I like to make a big batch & freeze the cooked skewers for another time. They can easily be reheated in a 350 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

I talked about using Photoshop Actionshere & here. In this post, I will help you get more out of them, by using several at a time to get a desired effect.I have been blogging for more than a year. It is interesting for me to look back at old posts & see the difference in the quality of my pictures. For one, nearly the entire first year, I was using a little point & shoot camera. Now, I have a fancy pants camera {which I love}. Secondly, I started using Photoshop more & more.I learned how to use Photoshop when I was in Design school. But, with the enormous quantity of photos I publish here, Actions make my life a whole lot easier.For this demonstration, I will be using The Pioneer Woman's Action Sets One & Two. I love hers, because they produce amazing results & they're free!! MCP & IttyBitty have awesome ones for sale...along with many others available online, if you look around for them.Under each photo, the specific action I used will be in brackets.{Original}I took this shot over the weekend. It's a great picture on it's own. But, when I see a picture like this, I see the potential to make it even better. The subject is beautiful, the lighting is natural & it's in focus.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

...Measuring tools.Everyone knows you need measuring tools in your kitchen. If you cook anything at all, you probably already own some. These are some of my favorites...

a. A good set of measuring spoons is a must. Like the dry measuring cups, I have a quality set of stainless steel ones. Having a few sets is even better.

b. For liquids, I love these new silicone measuring cups. The fact that they are flexible has come in handy many times. Especially, when baking & pouring ingredients into a stand mixer.I also have the classic Pyrex variety as well.

c. I also have this set. Which, I bought because they are so cute. But, I like having 2 sets around, for when I have to do large cooking jobs. Plus, these also double as great prep bowls.

d. I invested in a quality set of measuring cups. These are made of stainless steel & will not rust, or warp over time.

e. I love this mini measuring cup from OXO. I probably use this more than anything else. It's perfect for measuring small quantities...like oil, vinegar, etc.

Monday, July 6, 2009

This dish is a Bozo favorite. If your kids don't like shrimp, the pasta is great on it's own too. It's a super quick & easy weeknight dinner. The recipe I use is modified from BFC's Family Style cookbook. It cooks up very quickly & it helps to have all of your ingredients ready before beginning.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Thursday, July 2, 2009

The now-closed, Ocean Drive, in SoNo, used to make the most amazing watermelon margaritas in the summertime. Lately, I have been dreaming of one & decided to try to re-create them at home.These margaritas are very similar to the classic ones I make, in that they are real margaritas...and not some sickeningly sweet frozen concoction. If you are looking for something sweet, by all means, add some simple syrup, or superfine sugar to these & it should suit your taste.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

I might call this my favorite pasta salad.In the summer, when the kitchen is hot, and outdoor eating is at it's peak, I love anything that can be made ahead of time. I have a few pasta salad favorites in my repertoire.However, many times, I find I'm disappointed when trying a new recipe. Maybe it's too oily. Too tangy. Too soggy. But, this one is a must try.